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SOP No. 2140

Rev. 8

1.0 SCOPE AND APPLICATION This SOP defines the procedures for the calibration of thermometers in the laboratory in a manner to provide traceability to a National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) standard.

2.0 SUMMARY 2.1 Temperature Critical Thermometers: Thermometers used for applications where the temperature reading is the analytical result. Therefore, the analytical result (e.g. flash point, melting point, qualification of GC ovens) must be accurate within 1C. These thermometers will be sent out to an approved, ISO 17025 certified calibration vendor annually. 2.2 Secondary Parameter Component Thermometers: Thermometers used for less critical applications (e.g. drying oven, refrigerator monitoring, environmental monitoring). Must be accurate within 2C. Calibration is verified in-house annually for digital thermometers and every six months for liquid in glass thermometers. Probes for the wireless monitoring system are calibrated by the manufacturer annually.

3.0 APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

3.2 Hot-water bath. 3.3 Beaker, 250 mL. 3.4 Magnetic stirrer. 3.5 Stirring bars. 3.6 Dewar flask.

3.7 Rock Salt

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3.1 NIST-traceable thermometer (Ertco 58924 or equivalent).

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SOP No. 2140

Rev. 10

4.0 PROCEDURE 4.1 Liquid in glass thermometers: conduct an internal calibration verification, using the NIST guidelines for an ice point check, every six months starting at the manufacturers initial calibration expiration date. For thermometers that have a low range of 0 or above, a one point calibration verification is done within 5 degrees of the lowest available measurement on the thermometer. Like thermometers may be grouped together during testing. 4.1.1

4.1.2 There are three immersion depths for liquid-in-glass thermometers. 4.1.2.1 Total-immersion (or bath), where all but approximately 12mm of the stem is immersed in the liquid. The meniscus should never be at or below the surface of the liquid. 4.1.2.2 Partial-immersion thermometers are designed to indicate temperatures correctly when the bulb and a specified portion of the stem are exposed to the temperature being measured. The remainder of the stem is at ambient temperature. They will be marked with an immersion line or have another indication of immersion depth written on them. 4.1.2.3 Complete-immersion thermometers are designed to indicate temperature correctly when the entire thermometer, including the expansion chamber is in the liquid. These generally lack the horizontal line, and are labeled Imm..

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Thermometer results are measured in the position the device is intended to be read (i.e. near vertical, at the proper immersion depth). Below is a diagram of a thermometer. Thermometers may or may not have all of the descriptive points.

SOP No. 2140

Rev. 8

4.1.3

Record results in the Thermometer Calibration logbook (a template is given as Attachment I). At a minimum, the Thermometer Calibration logbook documents: NIST device identification number NIST device calibration due date NIST device result Test device identification number Test device manufacturer Test device range of use Test device results at the ice set point Test device pass/fail Performed by signature and date Reviewed by signature and date

4.2.1

Record results in the Thermometer Calibration logbook (a template is given as Attachment II). At a minimum, the Thermometer Calibration logbook documents: NIST device identification number NIST device calibration due date NIST device results for low set point, med set point, and high set point Test device identification number Test device manufacturer Test device use range Test device results of the low set point, med set point, and high set point Test device pass/fail Performed by signature and date Reviewed by signature and date

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4.2 For Secondary Parameter Component thermometers (digital or dial thermometers used for monitoring ovens, refrigerators, or sample receipt temperature, for example): Verify calibration annually starting at the manufacturers initial calibration expiration date. Verify accuracy at three set points within the range of the thermometer (low, mid, high). Like thermometers may be grouped together during testing. Probes are to be identified and calibrated as a component of the unit for which they are used.

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SOP No. 2140

Rev. 10

4.2.2 Ambient temperature. 4.2.2.1 Fill a 250 mL beaker with tap water and allow to equilibrate to room temperature for one hour. 4.2.2.2 Insert both the NIST-traceable thermometer and the test thermometers into the beaker and allow the readings to stabilize.

4.2.3

Elevated temperature. (Make sure not to exceed the highest range of the test device)

4.2.3.2 Insert both the NIST-traceable thermometer and the test thermometer into the bath and allow the readings to stabilize. 4.2.3.3 Record the temperature readings of both thermometers. 4.2.4

4.2.3.1 Add ice to a dewar flask to approximately halfway to the surface.

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4.2.4.4 Allow the system to equilibrate. 4.2.4.5 Insert both the NIST-traceable thermometer and the test thermometer into the flask and allow the readings to stabilize. 4.2.4.6 Record the temperature readings of both thermometers. 4.2.4.7 If the ice melts, pour out some water, add more ice and salt, and allow to re-stabilize. 4.2.4.8 If the test device has a minimum temperature above 0 C, use cold water in place of ice water at a temperature within 5 C of the lowest range.

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4.2.4.3 Add salt and stir until temperature is below 0 C.

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4.2.4.2 Add water to approximately to 1 inch below the rim of the flask.

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Sub-ambient temperature (Make sure not to exceed the lowest range of the test device)

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4.2.3.1 Turn on the hot water bath and allow to equilibrate for one hour.

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4.2.2.3 Record the temperature readings of both thermometers.

SOP No. 2140

Rev. 8

4.2.5

Infrared thermometer elevated temperature calibration. 4.2.5.1 Fill a large styrofoam cup up to to 1 inch below the rim with hot tap water. 4.2.5.2 Insert the NIST-traceable thermometer into the water, stir, and allow the readings to stabilize. 4.2.5.3 Continue stirring and record the temperature readings of both thermometers. Hold the IR thermometer within 3 inches of the surface of the water and outside the rim of the cup, away from the steam.

4.2.6

Infrared thermometer sub-ambient temperature calibration.

4.2.6.1 Add ice to a large styrofoam cup to approximately halfway to the surface.

4.2.6.3 Insert the NIST-traceable thermometer into the water, stir, and allow the readings to stabilize. 4.2.6.4 Continue stirring and record the temperature readings of both thermometers. Hold the IR thermometer within 3 inches of the surface of the water. 4.2.7 For the wireless temperature monitoring system, the manufacturer will provide calibration services annually.

4.4 Thermocouples are labeled with the thermometer with which they are used and have been calibrated.

4.5 Thermometers not meeting the above requirements will be placed out-of-service and disposed of in accordance with the Safety Policy. A Non-Conformance Report will be opened in order to perform an impact assessment, per SOP 270. 4.6 After the calibration verification is performed, a member of the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) will review the results and sign the logbook pages.

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4.3 Following calibration, a calibration sticker will be attached to each thermometer including the thermometer identification number, the date of calibration, the initials of the person performing the calibration, and the date the next calibration is due.

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4.2.6.2 Add cold tap water to approximately to 1 inch below the rim of the cup.

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SOP No. 2140

Rev. 10

4.7 For comparing Fahrenheit thermometers to the Celsius reference thermometer, use the following equations or the attached table: F C = = (C * 1.8) + 32 (F - 32) / 1.8 TABLE I
Degrees C F
10 -12.2 12 -11.1 14 -10.0 16 -8.9 18 -7.8 20 -6.7 22 -5.6 24 -4.4 26 -3.3 28 -2.2 30 -1.1 32 0.0 34 1.1 36 2.2 38 3.3 40 4.4 42 5.6 44 6.7 46 7.8 48 8.9 50 10.0 52 11.1 54 12.2 56 13.3 58 14.4 60 15.6 62 16.7 64 17.8 66 18.9 68 20.0 70 21.1 72 22.2 74 23.3 76 24.4 78 25.6 80 26.7 82 27.8 84 28.9 86 30.0 88 31.1 90 32.2 92 33.3 94 34.4 96 35.6

Degrees F C
98 100 102 104 106 108 110 112 114 116 118 120 122 124 126 128 130 132 134 136 138 140 142 144 146 148 150 152 154 156 158 160 162 164 166 168 170 172 174 176 178 180 182 184 36.7 37.8 38.9 40.0 41.1 42.2 43.3 44.4 45.6 46.7 47.8 48.9 50.0 51.1 52.2 53.3 54.4 55.6 56.7 57.8 58.9 60.0 61.1 62.2 63.3 64.4 65.6 66.7 67.8 68.9 70.0 71.1 72.2 73.3 74.4 75.6 76.7 77.8 78.9 80.0 81.1 82.2 83.3 84.4

Degrees F C
186 188 190 192 194 196 198 200 202 204 206 208 210 212 214 216 218 220 222 224 226 228 230 232 234 236 238 240 242 244 246 248 250 252 254 256 258 260 262 264 266 268 270 272 85.6 86.7 87.8 88.9 90.0 91.1 92.2 93.3 94.4 95.6 96.7 97.8 98.9 100.0 101.1 102.2 103.3 104.4 105.6 106.7 107.8 108.9 110.0 111.1 112.2 113.3 114.4 115.6 116.7 117.8 118.9 120.0 121.1 122.2 123.3 124.4 125.6 126.7 127.8 128.9 130.0 131.1 132.2 133.3

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SOP No. 2140

Rev. 8
APPENDIX I

Thermometer Calibration Form A

Calibrate Internally (Single Point Low or Ice)
Reading C Low (Ice) NIST Device ID #: NIST Device Calibration Due Date: Type D=Digital Serial Number (or Available Range L=Liquid unique ID#) M= Mercury

Reading C

Thermometer #

Room #

Manufacturer

Low (Ice)

Pass/Fail

Performed By: Reviewed By QAU :

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SOP No. 2140

Rev. 10
APPENDIX II

Thermometer Calibration Form B

Calibrate Internally (Low or Ice, Ambient, Hot Bath)
Reading C Low (Ice) NIST Device ID #: NIST Device Calibration Due Date: Type D=Digital Serial L=Liquid Number (or unique ID#) M= Mercury Mid (Ambient) High

Thermometer #

Room #

Manufacturer

Available Range Low (Ice) Mid (Ambient)

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Performed By: Date: Date:

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Reviewed By QAU :

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High

d
Pass/Fail

Reading C